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Post subject: Which Bass for a beginner?
Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2011 6:13 pm
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I am a beginning bass player and was wondering which bass to get, a P-bass or J-bass american made of course. Will the J-bass sound like a P-bass also?
I am not sure which music will be played but I enjoy pretty much al types

Appreciate any comments
Thanks


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Post subject: Re: Which Bass for a beginner?
Posted: Tue Oct 18, 2011 1:14 am
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Your initial bass should be easy to play, sturdy and simple. A P-Bass is simpler with only two knobs. If you already play guitar with a pick, you are likely going to play bass with a pick. Pick players usually go for the P-Bass but on the other hand some people moving from guitar to bass prefer the smaller J-Bass neck, so it is a catch-22.

I would not suggest an active bass as your first bass since you'll be practicing a lot and some active basses, especially the older ones, eat batteries which can get expensive. Newer actives have less power drain but still buying batteries for them gets old. When using an active at a gig, which I sometimes do, I always put a fresh battery in it.

I usually suggest a beginner look for a good playing USED instrument. A P/J pickup arrangement was mentioned. Yes, they are somewhat more versatile but slightly more complicated with more knobs and more often than not Fender P/J's are active. If you can find a passive Fender P/J you can definitely try one out. A couple of used USA models to look for that are passive Fender P/J's are the Fender JP90 and the Fender California Series P-Bass Deluxe. The California Series ones are scarcer and will cost more. I like them both a lot and prefer the wider tonal colors available on the JP90 due to the toggle switch. I'm currently looking for a good used JP90 myself and have been for a while. JP90's pop up on eBay all the time but I'm looking for one in person. I do not suggest buying a used instrument without actually playing it first and checking it out completely. I also would want to have a tech check it out too and if he says it's a keeper then have him set it up. No matter what bass you decide to buy, I strongly encourage you to play it before buying it.

The P/J arrangement is at face value a tiny bit deceiving though, because one would think it could sound exactly like a Precision or exactly a Jazz depending on which pickup you have soloed. However I find almost all passive P/J's have tonal colors all their own even when one pickup or the other is soloed. I agree with SKCOPPERTELE because P/J's are a favorite of mine too and I will always keep a passive P/J around. But the basses I play most are the early and mid-50's style first-generation P-Basses.

So see, everyone has to find the bass that is right for them. Try lots of them out, buy the one you like best. Because people are different and what works best for me won't work as well for you and what works best for you won't work as well for me. You just have to get out there and try a bunch out.


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Post subject: Re: Which Bass for a beginner?
Posted: Tue Oct 18, 2011 3:01 pm
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brotherdave wrote:
Your initial bass should be easy to play, sturdy and simple. A P-Bass is simpler with only two knobs. If you already play guitar with a pick, you are likely going to play bass with a pick. Pick players usually go for the P-Bass but on the other hand some people moving from guitar to bass prefer the smaller J-Bass neck, so it is a catch-22.

I would not suggest an active bass as your first bass since you'll be practicing a lot and some active basses, especially the older ones, eat batteries which can get expensive. Newer actives have less power drain but still buying batteries for them gets old. When using an active at a gig, which I sometimes do, I always put a fresh battery in it.

I usually suggest a beginner look for a good playing USED instrument. A P/J pickup arrangement was mentioned. Yes, they are somewhat more versatile but slightly more complicated with more knobs and more often than not Fender P/J's are active. If you can find a passive Fender P/J you can definitely try one out. A couple of used USA models to look for that are passive Fender P/J's are the Fender JP90 and the Fender California Series P-Bass Deluxe. The California Series ones are scarcer and will cost more. I like them both a lot and prefer the wider tonal colors available on the JP90 due to the toggle switch. I'm currently looking for a good used JP90 myself and have been for a while. JP90's pop up on eBay all the time but I'm looking for one in person. I do not suggest buying a used instrument without actually playing it first and checking it out completely. I also would want to have a tech check it out too and if he says it's a keeper then have him set it up. No matter what bass you decide to buy, I strongly encourage you to play it before buying it.

The P/J arrangement is at face value a tiny bit deceiving though, because one would think it could sound exactly like a Precision or exactly a Jazz depending on which pickup you have soloed. However I find almost all passive P/J's have tonal colors all their own even when one pickup or the other is soloed. I agree with SKCOPPERTELE because P/J's are a favorite of mine too and I will always keep a passive P/J around. But the basses I play most are the early and mid-50's style first-generation P-Basses.

So see, everyone has to find the bass that is right for them. Try lots of them out, buy the one you like best. Because people are different and what works best for me won't work as well for you and what works best for you won't work as well for me. You just have to get out there and try a bunch out.


Thanks for the insight, I have been checking out American Standard J-Bass and will go with that one for now
I like the smaller neck and overall feel as I am just a beginner as far as string instruments go and have been taking lessons for six months now using the Hal Leonard series. I am completely new to playing an instrument but wanted to for a long time


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Post subject: Re: Which Bass for a beginner?
Posted: Tue Oct 18, 2011 10:19 pm
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OK! Good choice! Good luck with it!


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